Venezuela is new drug smuggling route to Europe

Telegraph:

Venezuela has become the key link in the new drug smuggling route from South America to Europe. Its increasingly corrupt security forces are accused of turning a blind eye to the activities of smugglers - and possibly shielding drugs barons.

"We know that some people very high in the government and military have their fingers in drug pies," said an official from an international law enforcement agency.

Cocaine grown in Colombia is smuggled into neighbouring Venezuela and then sent onwards to West Africa and Europe. There are reports of a new cartel, dubbed the "Cartel of the Suns", after the stars worn by the Venezuelan generals who are thought to be complicit in the trade.

Colombian intelligence learned of the cartel from Feris Farid Dominguez, who was deported from Venezuela in January to face charges of drug trafficking. He told how he met senior figures in President Hugo Chavez's security forces to arrange drug shipments through Venezuela.

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The most senior Colombian drugs baron now in custody, awaiting extradition to America, has told investigators that Venezuela offers smugglers relative immunity.

"Venezuela is a temple of drugs smuggling," said Hernando Gomez Bustamante, alias "Scratch", who had a $5 million bounty on his head.

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Air Force basis are apparently used as a transfer point. Crime in general has greatly increased under Chavez. That does not count his theft of private property for the government. Venezuela has become a RICO state.